Nokia facility to beat schedule

By agencies   |   Wednesday, 12 October 2005, 19:30 IST
Printer Print Email Email
CHENNAI: In order to tap the growing market of mobile phones in India major handsets manufacturers are waiting to set up their base in India. The latest entrant would be Nokia Corporation of Finland, which hopes to begin production at its manufacturing facility at Sriperumpudur near Chennai by April 2006. The Korean major LG Electronics already has a plant near Pune. “We are well ahead of the schedule. We had plans of starting operations in July, 2006. But, now we expect to begin production by March or April next year,” said Raimo Puntala, senior vice-president, operations and logistics, Nokia Corporation. Nokia plans to ramp up the factory gradually and once the production is in full scale, it forsees the work force reaching around 2,000 employees. Apart from Nokia, its suppliers were also expected to establish facilities in the land allotted to the company. The company is planning to invest around Rs 650 crore in its manufacturing plant, whereas its suppliers will be investing another Rs 650 crore. Nokia plans to produce 24 million mobile handsets at the plant.

siliconindia